Primary Care Physician in Lehigh Acres, FL

A primary care physician is someone who provides care for non-life-threatening medical issues, usually outside of the hospital or any acute care setting. This means they see patients on an appointment or walk-in basis, typically in a clinic or office setting. The term ‘primary’ is a helpful descriptor, as these physicians are often the first point of contact or line of defense when it comes to treating various medical issues and managing health needs. They are usually the “step 1” when you have a health concern that isn’t immediately life threatening or requires hospitalization. For example, if you have an infection and need antibiotics, you will most likely schedule an appointment with a primary care physician, who will be able to assess the infection and what kind of antibiotics are needed. Or, if you’re feeling unwell and aren’t sure what’s going on, a primary care physician can assess your health history and needs, perform diagnostic tests, and refer you to a specialist if necessary.

It depends. In some cases, this may just be a simple preference between the two terms, since both a general practice doctor and primary care physician are usually trained to assess and treat a wide variety of patients and their overall healthcare concerns. However, a general practice doctor may be trained in another specialty in addition to primary care. A pediatrician could be an example of this; pediatricians may have their own practices and be trained in primary care, while they also provide specific, ongoing care to children. At Dr. Pedro Ylisastigui MD, we have primary care physicians that can care for your whole family, at all stages of life.

These principles can vary depending on the country, cultural setting, and academic discipline. In general, the core principles associated with primary health care are: equitable distribution, community participation, intersectoral coordination, appropriate technology, and health promotion. Some disciplines add the principles of primary care being culturally appropriate, and effective as well as efficient.

Equitable distribution means quality care that extends across all walks of life, and public or community participation means that patients and their communities have the right to be participants in their health care and health decisions. Intersectoral coordination refers to various aspects of healthcare, like specialists and hospitals, working together for the health of a patient. Appropriate technology refers to using the right interventions for the patient and situation in question. Health promotion means providing sound, accessible medical information to the broader community, such as advice about nutrition, maternal and prenatal care, and disease control. At Dr. Pedro Ylisastigui MD, our primary care providers adopt these important principles when approaching your care.

This will be based on your personal health needs and goals. Those with a chronic condition may need more regular appointments and monitoring. Otherwise, you may only see your primary care physician for a yearly physical exam, or when you have a health issue that isn’t life-threatening and can be treated by your primary care provider.

There is no “limit” on how often you should see your primary care physician, however. The reason that those with primary care physicians tend to have better health outcomes, is that they usually have their health issues addressed quickly, before diseases or other potential complications can take hold. If you’re wondering if your concern is worth an appointment, it is; the primary care physician can listen to your concerns and provide necessary referrals, diagnostic materials, and treatments to make sure your needs are properly and quickly addressed.

For more information, call us today or schedule an appointment online! We are conveniently located at 1150 Lee Blvd. #4 Lehigh Acres, FL 33936 and surrounding areas! We serve patients from Lehigh Acres FL, Fort Myers FL, Gateway FL, Alva FL, Buckingham FL, Tice FL, Villas FL, Cape Coral FL, Matlacha FL, and Suncoast Estates FL.